Clemson's Tajh Boyd named ACC Player of the Year

On Wednesday, Boyd was named the ACC Player of the Year, both overall and offensive, by the narrowest of votes. Boyd edged North Carolina back Giovani Bernard by one vote in both ballots, which were done by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner, who is the ACC’s career active leader with 23.5 sacks, was voted the ACC’s defensive player of the year.

Boyd, who led Phoebus to state championships in 2006 and ’08, also learned Wednesday he had made the American Football Coaches Association All-America team.

“It’s been a really good day,” Boyd said. “I’m blessed to have this opportunity and represent the university in the best way possible. There’s been a lot of congratulations and things of that nature. It’s been a really fun day (with) a lot of smiling going on.”

It’s the second time in three years a former Peninsula District quarterback was named the ACC Player of the Year. Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor, an alum of Hampton High, won the honor in 2010.

Boyd finished the regular season with 4,042 total yards (3,550 passing, 492 rushing), first in the ACC and eighth in the nation. He has completed 67 percent of his passes for a school-record 34 touchdowns.

“I can't tell you how proud I am of Tajh Boyd,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in a university release. “He has broken just about every record out there to the point where he is breaking his own records.

“I really believe he is the best quarterback in the nation. This award means a lot to him because he has great respect for the players and teams in this league. He has also been a great leader all season. He is very deserving.”

Bill Dee, Boyd's coach at Phoebus, said the recognition was the result of hard work and constant improvement.

“I’m ecstatic for him,” said Dee, now the defensive coordinator at Old Dominion. “It’s been great to watch his development. He was good last year and made the All-ACC (first) team, and he’s improved so much this year.

“It’s not a surprise to me in the least with the work ethic he had when he was with me. There was never a moment when he wasn’t working on his game. Personally, I think he should be up for Heisman consideration, but my vote is biased.”

In making the American Football Coaches Association’s first team, Boyd was chosen ahead of Heisman front-runners Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M and Collin Klein of Kansas State.

Boyd, a fourth-year junior, said he has not made a decision on entering the NFL draft. He does plan to submit official evaluation paperwork to get an idea of his stock.

“I’m going to consider it; it’s not one of those deals where I’ve made a decision on anything yet,” he said. “Whenever you get the paperwork back, you sit down with the coaches and your parents and talk about it and try to make the best decision possible. I don’t know of a decision yet, but that will be worked out in a little while.

“Submitting the paperwork is a good thing because it lets you know where you stand in the eyes of the (NFL) coaches. And if you decide to come back, it lets you know what you need to work on.”